My dear Miss Keary Here I am in the depths of Devonshire which must account for my not having sooner answered your letter. We both got out of sorts and wanted a change so here we are, thinking this beautiful county infinitely more beautiful in spring than in autumn, the red earth and young green contrast so beautifully together.

I think it does seem wise to complete the Scandinavian sketches with Magnus, and the Siamese bits that ... continue reading

My dear Marianne- Yesterday was so rainy that there really is very little to say about it. The breakfast was enlivened by our being told that Madame Adelaide always had a set of bonbons placed beside the seat of each member of her brother’s cabinet whenever they met, and that they were of a superior quality or not according as to whether she liked the ministry or not. M. Guizot said he had the experience of ... continue reading

My dear Marianne-

Here is our last morning here, at least so I hope, for I ended the day yesterday by a collapse, and instead of spending the evening with M. Guizot, had to lie on my back in my room all the evening. However, I am much mended, and hope to be in thorough repair before we start at 12 o’clock. Madame de Witt’s cold was very bad yesterday and she only came out at ... continue reading

My dear Duke I felt as if I must write to my uncle yesterday, I hope it was not troubling him when so many must be writing. It seems still like a dream to me, partly from the being so far away that everything must needs look and go on as usual, however much I may see with my mind’s eye how all must be looking at Puslinch and how sad and changed the look out ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan I shall see Miss Johns on Saturday and have a consultation with her.

I have been prevented from setting about the Storehouse by the almost sudden death - the first day of this month - of one of my dear cousins - the one on whom I relied for looking out the copies of the books that I was to have from Puslinch. I have not been willing to trouble her sister to ... continue reading

I wish you could see my young ladies, who have advanced to copy-books since they were at Puslinch. All their uncles, aunts, and cousins are staying with them, and in the midst of all poor Rosalie’s horse threw her, and she had a strain which is keeping her on the sofa. One evening when everybody but her and her friend Isabella were gone to see the Eddystone, they heard a carriage come to ... continue reading

My dear Anne, I scarcely expected you would be so kind as to write to me so soon, and I hope it was no great exertion of spirits to you. Such a morning as this is just what one would figure to oneself as the right day for you, and I think I can see both Puslinch and Newton this morning. At the moment I am writing I suppose you are just beginning to ... continue reading

My dear Anne It is very nearly post time and I am afraid I have not time to write a long letter and indeed I do not know how I should for writing to you is a very different thing now from what it was not a month ago does it not seem to you as if it was a year ago that uncle Yonge and Alethea went to Ottery and as if you were quite ... continue reading

My dear Anne Thank you for your letter. I am very sorry you feel so deplorable and still more sorry that our last conversation should have been such as to leave an uncomfortable impression on your mind I am afraid it was all my fault and I am particularly sorry to have talked in such a manner as to make you think I meant to set myself up for an example which was far ... continue reading

My dear Anne Mamma is writing to Uncle James so I think Puslinch must hear at the same time otherwise I should like to save Uncle Yonge the anxiety.

Papa has been over working himself with spending whole long days without dinner upon Julian’s preparations, and yesterday after going to Portsmouth to take leave of him, and coming home very late, a sort of seizure came on like an exaggerated headache. We sent for Mr Lyford ... continue reading

It is nine years since I had been here. . . . All is much the same, and the ways of the house, sounds and sights, walks and church-going, are all unaltered. And there is all the exceeding pleasure of the old terms, the playful half teasing and scolding, and being set down for nonsense, and oh, above all, Uncle Yonge - having more of the father to me than ... continue reading

That visit was on the whole so delicious, and leaves such a sunny impression on my mind, that it is strange to remember the spots of yearning recollection and the great pang of going away. Not that I was not glad to get back . . .but when one looked back to the last time of parting in the full hope of being together the next year, and remembered that nine ... continue reading

Dear Mr Holgate This is really only an abridgement of the article in the Christian Remembrancer, except that I added the going to Winchester College chapel in 1854. I signed the paper because once or twice I found myself writing I to a personal reminiscence, but it can be altered if you wish it. I think Lord Seaton’s personal appearance is fully described in the paper. He was the most striking old man I ever saw. ... continue reading